This noise is really worrying me

[maddox]

Maddox has stopped sneezing for the most part, but he is making this strange noise quite a bit, and I am really worried about it. I have no idea what it means. He makes the noise at the end of the video.

 

[zERo]

Maddox has stopped sneezing for the most part, but he is making this strange noise quite a bit, and I am really worried about it. I have no idea what it means. He makes the noise at the end of the video.

It sounded a bit wet, how often is he doing it would you say?
Could you call your vet and ask if maybe he’s still getting over the sneezing?
Trying to remember here, he was on antibiotics right?

 

[maddox]

It sounded a bit wet, how often is he doing it would you say?
Could you call your vet and ask if maybe he’s still getting over the sneezing?
Trying to remember here, he was on antibiotics right?

He is doing it constantly. I plan on reaching out to the vet but I'm not really sure what they can do because he was on antibiotics for 21 days which hasn't seemed to help this issue.

 

[zERo]

He is doing it constantly. I plan on reaching out to the vet but I'm not really sure what they can do because he was on antibiotics for 21 days which hasn't seemed to help this issue.

Sorry to hear of this, hopefully your vet can figure out another treatment!
Keep us updated!
It could be he just needs a different antibiotic.

 

[maddox]

Sorry to hear of this, hopefully your vet can figure out another treatment!
Keep us updated!
It could be he just needs a different antibiotic.

Thanks, I really appreciate the advice. I have an appointment made for him on Saturday.

 

[ravvlet]

That does sound a little wet, and he kind of licks the roof of his beak right after. Weird. I hope it’s nothing, for your sake. I can’t remember - did they find anything when they did his blood and fecal when they gave him antibiotics last time? My vet always has us re do the bloodwork or gram stain after any antibiotics to be sure the issue is fully resolved.

 

[maddox]

That does sound a little wet, and he kind of licks the roof of his beak right after. Weird. I hope it’s nothing, for your sake. I can’t remember - did they find anything when they did his blood and fecal when they gave him antibiotics last time? My vet always has us re do the bloodwork or gram stain after any antibiotics to be sure the issue is fully resolved.

Yeah she did run the blood work and said that there was nothing unusual. No infections or anything, and his lungs sounded just fine too. To be honest, the vet really couldn't point to a definite issue.

 

[ravvlet]

Yeah she did run the blood work and said that there was nothing unusual. No infections or anything, and his lungs sounded just fine too. To be honest, the vet really couldn't point to a definite issue.

Did she try a culture from a nasal swab? We have had to do that for Kirby a few times, sometimes the gram stain and bloodwork come back clean, but there is stuff growing in their sinuses that isn’t bad enough to compromise their bloodwork but enough to cause the sinuses to become more productive (resulting in excess secretions that can cause that wet noise and/or sneezing). It could be that whatever bacteria is causing it wasn’t fully covered by the wide spectrum antibiotic she dosed! Its worth asking anyway.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Did she try a culture from a nasal swab? We have had to do that for Kirby a few times, sometimes the gram stain and bloodwork come back clean, but there is stuff growing in their sinuses that isn’t bad enough to compromise their bloodwork but enough to cause the sinuses to become more productive (resulting in excess secretions that can cause that wet noise and/or sneezing). It could be that whatever bacteria is causing it wasn’t fully covered by the wide spectrum antibiotic she dosed! Its worth asking anyway.

I wonder if parrots can have allergies like people do.

 

[ravvlet]

I wonder if parrots can have allergies like people do.

My vet has indicated they totally do. I do know at the beginning of spring/late winter is when Kirby’s booger control has to go into overboard, lol.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

My vet has indicated they totally do. I do know at the beginning of spring/late winter is when Kirby’s booger control has to go into overboard, lol.

I wonder if parrots can be allergic to people.

 

[ravvlet]

I wonder if parrots can be allergic to people.

I get what you actually mean, but also, I have met a few cockatoos and ‘zons who I think would like to claim that allergy regardless of their actual medical state…

 

[maddox]

Did she try a culture from a nasal swab? We have had to do that for Kirby a few times, sometimes the gram stain and bloodwork come back clean, but there is stuff growing in their sinuses that isn’t bad enough to compromise their bloodwork but enough to cause the sinuses to become more productive (resulting in excess secretions that can cause that wet noise and/or sneezing). It could be that whatever bacteria is causing it wasn’t fully covered by the wide spectrum antibiotic she dosed! Its worth asking anyway.

I took him back to the vet last Saturday, and they did do a nasal swab, and it turns out that he has a moderate growth of bacteria, so he is on another round of different antibiotics, which actually seems to be helping! The noise has been less and less frequent, and it is pretty much resolved except for a noise now and again. He for sure seems like he is moving in the right direction!

 

[ravvlet]

I took him back to the vet last Saturday, and they did do a nasal swab, and it turns out that he has a moderate growth of bacteria, so he is on another round of different antibiotics, which actually seems to be helping! The noise has been less and less frequent, and it is pretty much resolved except for a noise now and again. He for sure seems like he is moving in the right direction!

Heck yeah! Are you in the Americas? Some birdies have seasonal allergies just like people! Maybe its spring!

 

[maddox]

Heck yeah! Are you in the Americas? Some birdies have seasonal allergies just like people! Maybe its spring!

That was my original thought! My allergies are killing me!

 

[ravvlet]

Well, FUN FACT (not fun, as I also have seasonal allergies), allergies can trigger a sinus infection. Your sinuses swell when they encounter an irritant like an allergen, and this can trap and incubate bacteria!

Poor Maddox! They need to make birdie Claritin!

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Well, FUN FACT (not fun, as I also have seasonal allergies), allergies can trigger a sinus infection. Your sinuses swell when they encounter an irritant like an allergen, and this can trap and incubate bacteria!

Poor Maddox! They need to make birdie Claritin!

I hope Maddox feels better soon. I'm suffering with my second Covid infection in six months (yes, I got my shots like a good dog) and the nasal and sinus congestion is so miserable! Poor Birdie!

 

[maddox]

I am starting to think you guys are not too far off with allergies being the issue here since antibiotics have been useless. I called the vet to ask about possible antihistamines so I hoping that there might be something there when she calls back.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I am starting to think you guys are not too far off with allergies being the issue here since antibiotics have been useless. I called the vet to ask about possible antihistamines so I hoping that there might be something there when she calls back.

I hear dogs and cats can have terrible allergies so why can't birds? They may even have food allergies that can affect them just like our food allergies can affect us. I'd hate to have to give a bird antihistamines (or any other medication) daily but we do what we have to do for their health, right? It's the manhandling thing that's so hard. Every time I've had to medicate a budgie a couple times a day for a week it's been so unpleasant. I had to hold the budgie in my hand with his head between my thumb and forefinger and put the tip of the syringe in the side of his beak and try to squirt the medicine in his mouth without getting most of it all over his face. Of course this is unpleasant
on some level for even the tamest birds. I've been lucky because when I've done this with tame budgies they have never held it against me. I just let go of them when done and they just perch on hand and shake their heads spewing some of the stuff around. Same with lightly trimming their wings- neither of us like it but it's over quickly with no hard feelings. But I still hate doing it.

 

[maddox]

I hear dogs and cats can have terrible allergies so why can't birds? They may even have food allergies that can affect them just like our food allergies can affect us. I'd hate to have to give a bird antihistamines (or any other medication) daily but we do what we have to do for their health, right? It's the manhandling thing that's so hard. Every time I've had to medicate a budgie a couple times a day for a week it's been so unpleasant. I had to hold the budgie in my hand with his head between my thumb and forefinger and put the tip of the syringe in the side of his beak and try to squirt the medicine in his mouth without getting most of it all over his face. Of course this is unpleasant
on some level for even the tamest birds. I've been lucky because when I've done this with tame budgies they have never held it against me. I just let go of them when done and they just perch on hand and shake their heads spewing some of the stuff around. Same with lightly trimming their wings- neither of us like it but it's over quickly with no hard feelings. But I still hate doing it.

haha it's not my favorite thing! Maddox is actually pretty good with taking his meds though. I still hate it though!